This document summarizes a workshop on turbo charging Moodle by introducing users to Moodle contrib code. The workshop will explain what contrib code is, where to find it, and how to install it without requiring coding skills. Moodle is introduced as a free and open source learning management system with a large community that supports customization through its modular structure and contrib code.

1. Turbo Charging Moodle
Making Moodle do more for you!

2. Aim of this workshop
We Will
๏ Introduce you to the concepts of Moodle contrib code
๏ Provide users with links of where to find good code
๏ Show users how to install code into their own Moodle’s
We Won’t
๏ This is NOT a technical workshop
๏ No prior experience expected
๏ Coding required

3. What is Moodle
Moodle is FOSS
Moodle is Modular
Moodle has a large community
Moodle is built by educators, for educators

4. Moodle is FOSS
Free and Open Source Software
Software which is liberally licensed to grant the
right of users to study, change and
improve its design through the
availability of its source code.
Free as in FREEDOM
(often also free as a free beer/gratis)

5. Moodle is Modular
Moodle is built on a modular
design.
This allows users to add new
functionality just by dropping
extra folders into their moodle
site.
No coding skills are typically*
required to add news blocks.

6. 47,600
47,653
over
by over
38,218
learning communities
21 million
21,151
users
9,318
Aug 2008
2,501 Feb 2008
Feb 2007
Feb 2006
600 Feb 2005
Feb 2004
Moodle has a large
Community

7. Global
Collaboration with
Skilled Developers
Moodle has a large
Community

8. Supporting
Moodle is built by different
learning
educators! and
teaching
For Educators! styles

9. Getting additional
features
What is contrib code?
Where can I find contrib code?
How do I plug-in contrib code
Is it safe to use?

10. What is contrib code?
Contrib code is:
...community contributed code
...typically written by users who have a
specific need they need met
...based on API’s that allow for relative ease
in adding new functionality
...available as dozens of projects available

11. Where can I find contrib code?
Modules and Plugins Database
Moodle Contrib CVS
(hosted by Sourceforge)
Moodle Forums
Directly from Moodle users

12. Where can I find contrib code?
Create your own:
Should you have the skills, skilled staff
of funds to out-source development
you can create your own.
Moodle is built on Open Source
technologies enabling developers to
create new code
Documentation is available online to
assist as well as a helpful online
developer community on the moodle
forums.

13. Is it safe to use?
The answer to this is ‘Not Always’
Moodle is made by users with ranging degrees of
experience
Always do your research
Is anyone else using it?
Are their comments in the M&P Database
Check the Moodle forums.
Never install straight into production!!! Always test first

14. How do I plug-in contrib code?
Step One Best Practice Tips
Always test on a separate system
Upload the files to the relevant location
than your production box. Tools like
The locations are normally outlined in the readme that comes with the files. XAMPP and MAMP can allow you to
install Moodle on your desktop to
Step Two play with code before putting it on a
live server
Install the language pack (use en_utf8_local)
This allows for easier management.
Step Three
Go to the admin Notifications screen for automatic install
THAT’S IT!

15. What can we extend
Resources Quiz Question Types
Activities External Systems
Themes Filters
Blocks Reports

16. Resources and Activities

17. Themes
Why Use Themes
๏ Meet brand requirements
๏ Match an existing site
๏ Present a more engaging
design for your particular
audience
๏ Establish a unique look and
feel for your site. be a Stand out!

18. Quiz Question Types

19. Connect with external Systems

20. Also available add-ons include
Additional modular Filters
functions include:
Reports Blocks

21. Playtime
DEMO

22. Additional Info
Useful Links
The Moodle Playpen

23. Useful Links
Official Moodle Modules and plugins database
http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?id=6009
Moodle Contrib on CVS via Sourceforge
http://moodle.cvs.sourceforge.net/moodle/contrib/
Moodle Forums
http://moodle.org/course/view.php?id=5
MoodleDocs - The official wiki
http://docs.moodle.org

24. The Moodle Playpen
http://moodleman.net
The Moodleman Blog provides links
to the Moodle Playpen.
The Playpen is a site where you can
play with non-standard modules and
plugins without having to instal them
onto your own site.
The Playpen now exists in two
flavors:
A standard 1.9.4+ version
An Alpha Moodle 2.0 version
http://playpen.moodle.com.au
This is a demo site and occasionally
things may not work as expected.

25. Thankyou
Presenter: Julian Ridden
Email: julian@moodleman.net
Twitter: moodleman
www: http://moodleman.net
http://www.moodleman.net